Standard 1: Program DesignThe Agriculture Specialist Instruction Credential program and its prerequisites include
a purposeful, developmentally designed sequence of coursework and field experiences
that effectively prepare candidates to serve as agriculture specialists in California
schools and lead agriculture education programs. The sequenced design of the program
is based on a clearly stated rationale that has a sound theoretical and scholarly
foundation anchored in the knowledge base of teacher education. The program’s organizational
structure ensures that all of its administrative components are carefully coordinated.
By design, the program provides extensive opportunities for candidates to learn and
apply the concepts, skills and principles included in this set of program standards.

Required Elements for Standard 1: Program Design

1(a) The design of the program and the selection of prerequisites are clearly grounded
in a well-reasoned rationale that draws on sound scholarship and theory anchored to
the knowledge base of teacher education, are articulated clearly, and are evident
in the delivery of the program’s coursework and fieldwork. Program activities are
carefully sequenced to ensure that candidates appropriately develop their competence
in the performance standards defined in Category III.

1(b) The program design and its delivery form a cohesive set of learning experiences
that provide candidates with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required
to serve as agriculture specialists and to lead agriculture education programs.

1(c) The program has an organizational structure that provides for coordination
of the administrative components of the program to facilitate each candidate’s completion
of the program.

1(d) Coursework and field experiences utilize a variety of strategies for professional
instruction and provide multiple opportunities for candidates to learn and practice
the concepts, skills and principles included in this set of program standards.

Program Design

Preparation of candidates at CSUF begins with the General Education Program. The goal
of General Education is to develop and strengthen basic skills, scholarship, disciplined
thinking, awareness, reflection and integration of knowledge. Fifty one units of course
work in General Education are divided into four types of courses: 1) foundation, 2)
breadth, 3) integration, and 4) multicultural/international courses.

Foundation courses focus on “fundamental skills and knowledge.” Breadth courses expose
candidates to a variety of disciplines within a structured framework that develops
knowledge in four basic areas of human endeavor: 1) the physical universe and its
life forms; 2) the arts and humanities; 3) social, political, and economic institutions
and behavior, and their historical backgrounds; and 4) lifelong understanding and
self-development,. Integration courses provide an integrative experience at the upper
division level. Multicultural/international courses prepare candidates for an international,
multicultural world.

Candidates then complete an academic major in Agricultural Education, with a Teacher
Preparation Option. Candidates also take additional course work related to the teaching
field beyond requirements for this major to complete their subject matter preparation.
A copy of the Student Advising Sheet that list all courses and requirements for the undergraduate degree in Agricultural
Education, Teacher Preparation Option is located in the Appendix.

To be admitted to the Single Subject Credential Program, candidates must meet a number
of requirements. These include an early supervised field experience designed 1) to
ensure that the student understands the role of a public school teacher, 2) has had
pre-professional experiences with linguistically and culturally diverse youth, and
3) is making an informed choice about entering the teacher preparation program. To
be admitted to the Agriculture Specialist Credential Program candidates must also
meet additional requirements including completing course work covering 1) the organization,
administration, and supervision of agricultural education programs and 2) education
methods in agricultural mechanics. All Agriculture Specialist candidates are concurrently
enrolled in both programs.

Credential candidates complete 39 semester units of course work and fieldwork. More
specifically, this consists of six professional education courses, two agriculture
graduate courses, and two semesters of student teaching. The first semester of student
teaching is a part-time developmental experience which carries four units of credit.
The second semester of student teaching is full-time and carries ten units of credit.
The following chart illustrates the overall design of the preparation for Agriculture
Specialist candidate.

*Agriculture Specialist Candidates are advised to take CI 151 and CI 152 the final
semester of their senior year or to take LEE 154 during a summer session.

**A 3.0 Grade Point Average must be maintained by all credential candidates.

The Agriculture Specialist Credential Program is designed to enable candidates to
teach and manage a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program that prepares high
school students to pursue a career in the agricultural industry. In general, the Agriculture
Specialist Credential Program develops in candidates the professional competencies
listed below:

1. Candidates for the Agriculture Specialist Credential demonstrate competency and
knowledge in planning, organizing, and conducting programs of agricultural education.

2. Candidates for the Agriculture Specialist Credential demonstrate knowledge and
skill in advising, conducting, and supervising the activities of the FFA.

4. Candidates for the Agriculture Specialist Credential demonstrate competency and
knowledge in the philosophy, principles, practices, policies, and trends in agricultural
education.

Agriculture teachers must embrace CTE philosophy and ideology. They must understand
and be able to implement the three components of the Agricultural Education Program.
To accomplish this objective they must possess occupational knowledge and skill in
the agricultural industry. Agricultural Education teachers teach utilizing formal
classroom settings, related laboratories, and student supervised agricultural experience
programs. They also provide leadership training through Future Farmers of America
(FFA) activities. FFA is the recognized CTE student organization that is an integral
component of the Agricultural Education Program. The Agricultural Education Program
model consists of three interrelated components: 1) classroom/laboratory instruction,
2) leadership/personal development, and 3) supervised agricultural experience.

The Single Subject Credential Program is housed in the KSOEHD. Dr. Jody Daughtry is
the coordinator of the single subject credential program. She is hired and appointed
by the Dean of KSOEHD. The Agriculture Specialist Credential Program is housed in
the Department of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education located in the JCAST.
Dr. Rosco Vaughn serves as coordinator for the agriculture specialist credential program.
He is hired and appointed by the Dean of the JCAST. Two additional faculty members
in the Department of Animal Sciences and

Agricultural Education serve as advisors to Agricultural Education majors and teach
Agricultural Education courses in the department. Dr. Art Parham serves as Department
Chair and Professor of Agricultural Education and Dr. Steven Rocca serves as JCAST
Outreach Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Agricultural Education. These two
individuals along with Dr. Vaughn comprise the Agricultural Education Program faculty.
All three of the faculty members are

former high school Agricultural Education teachers. The Agriculture Specialist Coordinator
attends Single Subject Credential Committee meetings that are held periodically each
semester to share information and to coordinate activities with other programs. He
also attends meetings of Advanced Credential Program Coordinators each semester to
discuss issues specific to the advanced credential programs. The Agriculture Specialist
is an advanced credential program.

Curriculum specific to the Agriculture Specialist Credential Program is based on competencies
required for teachers to meet program certification requirements and to conduct successful
programs of agricultural education for students in the public high schools of California.

The teaching methods class (CI 161) is taught by an agricultural education faculty member and is part of both the single
subject and specialist programs. The same is true of the field experience classes,
AGED 050, EHD 155A and EHD 155B. The preferred sequence of courses and activities in the Agriculture Specialist Program
are outlined on the “Agriculture Specialist Checklist” (available on the Agricultural Education Web Site and in the Agricultural Education
Office). This sequence document outlines the design and content of the specialist
program and is provided to all candidates in the “Introduction to Agricultural Education”
class.

Occupational experience is verified by candidates listing their agriculture experience
on a T-14 Form and scheduling an interview with a representative of the California Department of
Education (San Joaquin Region Supervisor) who signs the form verifying that each candidate
has met the occupational experience requirement.

The matrix on the following pages indicates the standard and elements addressed in
the Agricultural Education courses. The letters in the matrix indicate the following:

I Indicates the element is introduced and the candidates should be familiar with it.

R Indicates the element is reinforced and student knowledge of the element is increasing.

A Indicates the element is advanced and students are expected to exhibit competency.

X Indicates the element is assessed in this course.

In the program, candidates are introduced to the various elements in their undergraduate
coursework with upper division courses reinforcing and building on the foundation
developed in the lower division courses. The upper division and post-baccalaureate
courses add to the candidates’ proficiency level to move them to an advanced ability
level and competency.